David Meece

Last updated

David Meece
David Meece.jpg
David Meece in Edmonton, Alberta
Background information
Born (1952-05-26) May 26, 1952 (age 71)
Origin Humble, Texas, U.S.
Genres Contemporary Christian music
Occupation(s)Singer, songwriter
Instrument(s)Piano, keyboard
Years active1976–present
Website davidmeece.com

David Meece (born May 26, 1952) is an American contemporary Christian musician who enjoyed success in the mid-1980s, and into the early 2010s, with more than thirty Top 10 hits including several No. 1 songs.

Contents

In November 2012, Meece was given a Lifetime Achievement Award for his body of work by the Artists Music Guild. [1]

Early life and education

Meece was raised in Humble, Texas, with an abusive and alcoholic father. Meece found solace in playing piano, [2] and by his mid-teens he was touring in Europe and the US.

Meece went on to study music at the Peabody Conservatory of Music where he met his wife Debbie, who played viola. [2] While attending Baltimore's Peabody Institute, he experienced a religious conversion, and devoted his life to Jesus.

Meece became a youth pastor, and began writing songs reflecting his Christian beliefs, adding classical influences to pop melodies. [3]

Music career

Meece came to the attention of the Christian music label Myrrh Records, and in 1976 they released his debut album, David. Meece would release ten albums between 1976 and 1993, becoming a major figure in the Christian music industry. Meece is perhaps best known for his song "We Are the Reason", which has been recorded by more than 200 other artists, and sung in several languages. [4] His song "Seventy Times Seven" peaked at No. 77 on the Australian Charts. [5] Meece worked with Canadian songwriter and producer Gino Vannelli for his albums Chronology and Candle In the Rain.

Possibly due to his conservatory training, Meece uses pieces of classical piano works as intros or settings for many of his songs. For example, in the song "This Time" from the album Learning to Trust, the opening section of the song (as well as the bridge and ending tag) is from Frédéric Chopin's "Revolutionary Etude" (Op. 10, No. 12) in C minor. The introductory melody for "You Can Go", from the album 7, is taken from the Two-Part Invention No. 13 in A Minor (BWV 784) by Johann Sebastian Bach. Because of the prevalent use of synthesizers, "You Can Go" is sometimes incorrectly connected to an advertisement in the early 1980s for Commodore 64, which used the Bach Invention played by a synthesizer. Also, the song "Falling Down" from his album Count the Cost is based on a sonata by Mozart.

Meece was requested to appear in Billy Graham crusades, among other outreach groups and television broadcasts. [2] He was inducted into the Christian Music Hall of Fame on June 14, 2008, [6] and received the 2009 Visionary Award for the Inspirational Male Soloist category. [7]

In 2012, Meece co-wrote the piece "Hands of Hope", with fellow performers David L. Cook and Bruce Carroll. The song was a current day remake of "We Are the World", which featured many famous voices from the music industry. The song was recorded by the Charlotte Civic Orchestra and featured the voices of: Babbie Mason, Christy Sutherland, Cook, Caroline Keller, Fantasia Barrino, Gayla Earlene, Joshua Cobb, Paul Zeaman, and many of the former PTL Club singers from Jim and Tammy Faye Bakker's show. The song was used as the theme song for Turning Point Centers for Domestic Violence. [8]

"Hands of Hope" reached No. 1 on the charts and remained there for two weeks. [9] In May 2012, the National Academy of Television Arts and Sciences announced the song garnered Meece, Cook and Carroll an Emmy nomination for Best Arrangement/Composer of a Television Theme Song. [10]

Discography

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Thomas Dolby</span> English musician (born 1958)

Thomas Morgan Robertson, known by the stage name Thomas Dolby, is an English musician, producer, composer, entrepreneur and teacher.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Triumph (band)</span> Canadian rock band

Triumph were a Canadian hard rock band formed in 1975 that was popular in the late 1970s and the 1980s, building on its reputation and success as a live band. Between its 16 albums and DVDs, the band has received 18 gold and nine platinum awards in Canada and the United States. They were nominated for multiple Juno Awards, including the 'Group of the Year Award' in 1979, 1985, 1986, and 1987. They were inducted into the Canadian Music Industry Hall of Fame in 2007, into the Canadian Music Hall of Fame in 2008, and into Canada's Walk of Fame in 2019.

<i>Purple Rain</i> (album) 1984 studio/soundtrack album by Prince and the Revolution

Purple Rain is the sixth studio album by the American singer, songwriter, producer, and multi-instrumentalist Prince. It was released on June 25, 1984, by Warner Bros. Records as the soundtrack album to the 1984 film of the same name. Purple Rain was musically denser than Prince's previous albums, emphasizing full band performances, and multiple layers of guitars, keyboards, electronic synthesizer effects, drum machines, and other instruments.

White Heart, also listed as Whiteheart, was an American contemporary Christian music and pop-rock band which formed in 1982. White Heart's discography includes thirteen albums, the most recent of which was released in 1997. Original members Billy Smiley and Mark Gersmehl worked with a continually changing cast of bandmates. In 1985, former roadie Rick Florian became the lead singer.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Funeral for a Friend/Love Lies Bleeding</span> 1973 song by Elton John

"Funeral for a Friend/Love Lies Bleeding" is a medley of two songs written by English musician Elton John and songwriter Bernie Taupin, and performed by John. It is the opening track of the 1973 double album Goodbye Yellow Brick Road.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Edwin Hawkins</span> American musician and singer (1943–2018)

Edwin Reuben Hawkins was an American gospel musician, pianist, vocalist, choir master, composer, and arranger. He was one of the originators of the urban contemporary gospel sound. As the leader of the Edwin Hawkins Singers, he was probably best known for his arrangement of "Oh Happy Day" (1968–69), which was included on the "Songs of the Century" list. In 1970, the Edwin Hawkins Singers made a second foray into the charts, backing folk singer Melanie on "Lay Down ".

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Jonathan David Brown</span> American record producer

Jonathan David Brown was an American record producer and audio engineer known for his work on albums released in the Contemporary Christian music industry. Brown served federal prison time as an accessory after the fact for helping a member of the Tennessee White Knights of the Ku Klux Klan evade authorities.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">In Dulci Jubilo / On Horseback</span> 1975 single by Mike Oldfield

"In Dulci Jubilo"/"On Horseback" is a double A-side single and third overall by English musician Mike Oldfield, released in November 1975 by Virgin Records. It features an instrumental version of the German traditional Christmas carol "In dulci jubilo" and Oldfield's second version of the song following an earlier recording released as the B-side to his previous single, "Don Alfonso". The song "On Horseback" is the final and previously untitled section to "Ommadawn " from his third studio album Ommadawn, released just one month before. The single is certified Silver by the British Phonograph Institute for selling 200,000 copies in the UK.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">David Mullen (singer)</span>

David Mullen is a former Blues Pop / CCM singer, songwriter and musician. Later he became well known as a songwriter, music producer, and film score composer. He released his first album in 1989, and won the GMA Dove Award for New Artist of the Year in 1990. He later recorded his last album in 1994. Since then, he has written and produced recordings for several other Christian artists, most notably Nicole C. Mullen.

<i>Count the Cost</i> 1983 studio album by David Meece

Count The Cost was David Meece's sixth album.

<i>7</i> (David Meece album) 1985 studio album by David Meece

7, sometimes called Seven, is the seventh album by artist David Meece. Five of the nine tracks charted on Christian radio in 1985 and 1986.

Elliott Brown Bannister III is a contemporary Christian music (CCM) producer and songwriter.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Bruce Carroll</span> American singer

Bruce Carroll, is an American CCM singer and multi Grammy and Dove Award winning recording artist.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">David Nail</span> American country singer (born 1979)

David Brent Nail is an American country music artist and the frontman of David Nail & The Well Ravens. In 2002, he debuted the single "Memphis" from an unreleased album for Mercury Records Nashville. Five years later, he signed with MCA Nashville, for which he has released four studio albums: I'm About to Come Alive, The Sound of a Million Dreams, I'm a Fire, and Fighter plus two extended plays, 1979 and Uncovered. The albums have produced seven chart entries on Hot Country Songs and Country Airplay, including two that have reached No. 1: "Let It Rain" and "Whatever She's Got", plus the top 10 hit "Red Light".

<i>Vital Signs</i> (White Heart album) 1984 studio album by White Heart

Vital Signs is the second album by the Christian rock band White Heart and the band's first with vocalist Scott Douglas, who replaced Steve Green, released in 1984 on Home Sweet Home Records. By this time, Green had already started his solo recording career with the release of his self-titled debut album released the same year as White Heart's Vital Signs. The album features their first Christian radio number-one hit "We Are His Hands" featuring Green singing background vocals and part of the choir at the end of the song. Vital Signs peaked at number nine on the Billboard Top Inspirational Albums chart.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Crowder (musician)</span> American musician

David Wallace Crowder, known professionally by his mononymous stage name Crowder since 2012, is an American contemporary Christian music singer, songwriter, multi-instrumentalist and author. He was the lead singer in the now defunct David Crowder Band, before he started his solo career in 2012 on sixstepsrecords and Sparrow Records labels. He released his first solo album. Neon Steeple, on May 27, 2014. Crowder released his first solo single off the album, "I Am", on November 25, 2013, which rose to the No. 3 position on the Christian Songs chart. American Prodigal, Crowder's second solo album, was released on September 23, 2016 and his third, I Know a Ghost, on November 9, 2018. His fourth solo album, Milk & Honey, released on June 11, 2021.

<i>Where Its At</i> (Dustin Lynch album) Second studio album by American country music artist Dustin Lynch

Where It's At is the second studio album by American country music artist Dustin Lynch. It was released on September 9, 2014, by Broken Bow Records. Mickey Jack Cones produced 12 of the 15 songs with Brett Beavers and Luke Wooten co-producing 3 of the 15. Lynch co-wrote five of the album's fifteen tracks. The album's first single, "Where It's At", was released to country radio on March 31, 2014 and became his first number one single on the Country Airplay chart. The album's second single, "Hell of a Night", was released to country radio on November 3, 2014. and became his second number one single on the Country Airplay chart. The album's third single, "Mind Reader", was released to country radio on September 28, 2015, and became his third number one single on the Country Airplay chart.

Richard Kiser, is an American CCM guitar player. Kiser has received over seventy industry awards and was voted the 2009 Instrumentalist of the Decade.

"Ain't Nobody" is a song by American Contemporary Christian musician and worship leader Cody Carnes. The song was released on September 30, 2022, as the second single from his first live album, God Is Good! (2022). Carnes co-wrote the song with Brandon Lake and Hank Bentley. The single was produced by Aaron Robertson, Austin Davis, Hank Bentley, and Jeff Pardo.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Good (Can't Be Anything Else)</span> 2022 song by Cody Carnes

"Good (Can't Be Anything Else)" is a song by American Contemporary Christian musician and worship leader Cody Carnes. The song was released on August 19, 2022, as the lead single from his first live album, God Is Good! (2022). Carnes co-wrote the song with Aodhan King. The single was produced by Aaron Robertson and Austin Davis.

References

  1. Meece, David. "Meece receives 2012 AMG Lifetime Achievement Award". Artists Music Guild. Archived from the original on May 2, 2013. Retrieved April 27, 2013.
  2. 1 2 3 "Meet David – David Meece" . Retrieved August 13, 2021.
  3. "David Meece Biography, Songs & Albums". AllMusic . Retrieved July 18, 2022.
  4. Powell, Mark Allan (2002). Encyclopedia of Contemporary Christian Music. Peabody, Massachusetts: Hendrickson Publishers. pp. 84–85. ISBN   978-1565636798.
  5. Kent, David (1993). Australian Chart Book 1970–1992 (illustrated ed.). St Ives, N.S.W.: Australian Chart Book. p. 196. ISBN   0-646-11917-6.
  6. "David Meece To Be Inducted Into Christian Music Hall Of Fame". CMSpin Article. Archived from the original on February 2, 2014. Retrieved January 24, 2014.
  7. "Welcome to the Christian Music Hall of Fame". Archived from the original on December 25, 2009. Retrieved January 24, 2010.
  8. Meece, David. "Hands of Hope". Charles Brady. Radio Active Airplay. Archived from the original on June 16, 2017. Retrieved April 20, 2012.
  9. Meece, David. "Hands of Hope Charts". Charles Brady. Radio Active Airplay. Archived from the original on June 16, 2017. Retrieved April 20, 2012.
  10. Meece, David. "Cook, Carroll and Meece garner Emmy Nomination" (PDF). Canyouhearmenow. NATAS . Retrieved May 10, 2012.[ permanent dead link ]
  11. Meece, David. "Hands of Hope" (PDF). Charles Brady. SoGospel Network. Archived from the original (PDF) on December 25, 2012. Retrieved April 20, 2012.